I need some aloha...

My parents just visited Hawaii on their 30th anniversary trip and found my entry at the Ka'awa Loa Plantation House, http://www.kaawaloaplantation.com/  I miss it there.  So peaceful...the opposite of New York City.

Autumn and memories of Summer in the city

3 years together.  Celebrating in my favorite secret garden, Teardrop Park, with a picnic and sunset after work.

 Hurricane Irene!  Basically a lot of rain and clouds that made the city disappear from our window.  We have tons of non-perishable food and candles now (for next time).

 My desk and small group space.  Look at the windows!  First time I've had them (except when teaching in the foyer) in 7 years!!  

 The first day of school, passing out uniforms with our gym teacher.

 The inaugural running club!  The rain deluged down on us for a solid 30 minutes, but it was the most fun way to kick-off the club.  We all wrung out our clothes before this photo.

 Our playground is surrounded by the Graffiti Wall of Fame.  How cool is that?  And they change it frequently.  So beautiful.

 Cart 2.0, constructed of a rolling spice rack and magnetic white board.  

One of my favorite little scholars starts the four floor climb to start the day!

Williamsburg ~ Smorgasburg!

I love my neighborhood!

The Brooklyn Heights promenade has the most beautiful view of lower Manhattan. I feel so lucky to have it near my new home :)

Can you take the Midwest out of the girl?

Tonight I had a quintessentially upper-class New York Experience. I met up with a friend at a trendy Midtown restaurant for wine and salads, then on to drinks at a packed bar in the Bowery. The bar was full of guys in suits and women wearing sundresses and boots; everyone looked so New York...I felt like I had to work hard to keep up. An acquaintance of my friend bought the first round of drinks and there weren't even prices on the menu! I'm sorry if I'm frugal, but that seems like a plan for regret. But I accepted gratefully (and the margarita was delicious). I sat and talked to women who all work in finance or technology start-ups and could laugh at the jokes about drinking a lot of wine at a book club, but understood none of the business jargon. So I nodded along. I left early because it's our first night in our new place...and it's special. I might eventually join their book club, because I like books and drinking lots of wine with friends...but I don't want to lose my Midwestern naivety. I want to save money, do more baking, stay safe, and never fully understand what "private equity" is (or if I do, never jargon-drop it to prove my status).

I left the bar early, at 8:30, which felt very me. I wanted to get home for our first night. I had to find my way to a subway stop with a ticket machine because my card was empty. I walked all the way south to a stop I knew from last summer. I switched trains to save time (because I know the trains to Brooklyn Heights from trial and error and much worry last year). Knowing my way around makes me feel like I can survive in this city. The ability to keep myself safe makes me self-reliant. But that won't change my attitude or my general mid-western sensibility. It's what will keep me sane here.

Culinary swoon...

This is my current favorite in my new neighborhood. If Barbette in Uptown, MPLS (one of my favorites) suddenly turned organic and a little hippie, it would be Siggy's. I LOVE their choices. I want to eat everything!

Today: avocado and quinoa salad and breakfast bar. Mmm...

How did I get here?

I just arrived. I can't believe it.

Everything I've done for the past three months has been leading up to this moment, but since I was so focused on the task at hand (vascilating between stressed out and zen-like state), I didn't really remember that I was moving to New York City.

This is absolutely crazy!